Anil Kakodkar
Encyclopedia
Anil Kakodkar is an eminent India
n nuclear
scientist
and mechanical engineer. He was the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India
and the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy. Before leading India's Nuclear Programme, he was the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
, Trombay from 1996-2000. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan
, India's second highest civilian honour, on January 26, 2009.
Princely State (present day Madhya Pradesh
state) to Mrs. Kamala Kakodkar & Mr. Purushottam Kakodkar
, both Gandhian Freedom Fighters. He had his early education at Barwani
and at Khargone, until moving to Mumbai
for post-matriculation studies.
, then from VJTI, University of Mumbai
with a degree in Mechanical Engineering
in 1963. He joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1964. He obtained a masters degree in experimental stress analysis from the University of Nottingham
in 1969.
In 1996 he became Director of the BARC and since 2000 he is leading the Atomic Energy Commission of India and also is the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy.
He has published over 250 scientific papers.
.
If Kakodkar's dream comes true, it will solve India's energy crisis.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n nuclear
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and mechanical engineer. He was the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India
Atomic Energy Commission of India
The Atomic Energy Commission is a governing body functioning under the Department of Atomic Energy , Government of India. The DAE is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.- History :...
and the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy. Before leading India's Nuclear Programme, he was the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is India's primary nuclear research facility based in Mumbai. It has a number of nuclear reactors, all of which are used for India's nuclear power and research programme.- History :...
, Trombay from 1996-2000. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
, India's second highest civilian honour, on January 26, 2009.
Champion of self-Reliance
Apart from playing a major role in India's nuclear tests asserting sovereignty, Dr. Kakodkar is a champion of India's self-reliance on Thorium as a fuel for nuclear energy.Academic and Scientific Career
Kakodkar was born in 1943 (November 11, 1943), in BarwaniBarwani
Barwani , also known as Badwani, is a city and a municipality in Barwani District in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The city is situated near the left bank of the Narmada River, and is the administrative headquarter of Barwani District. It has served as the capital of the former princely state...
Princely State (present day Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
state) to Mrs. Kamala Kakodkar & Mr. Purushottam Kakodkar
Purushottam Kakodkar
Purushottam Kesava Kakodkar was a prominent politician and social worker from Goa. He served as a Member of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.-Freedom Fighter:...
, both Gandhian Freedom Fighters. He had his early education at Barwani
Barwani
Barwani , also known as Badwani, is a city and a municipality in Barwani District in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The city is situated near the left bank of the Narmada River, and is the administrative headquarter of Barwani District. It has served as the capital of the former princely state...
and at Khargone, until moving to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
for post-matriculation studies.
Higher Education
Kakodkar graduated from Ruparel CollegeRuparel College
The D.G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce is a college in Matunga, Mumbai, India. It is run by Modern Education Society, Pune and is affiliated with the University of Mumbai, and has been referred to as "prestigious" by the Times of India....
, then from VJTI, University of Mumbai
University of Mumbai
The University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
with a degree in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1963. He joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1964. He obtained a masters degree in experimental stress analysis from the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
in 1969.
Career in BARC
He joined the Reactor Engineering Division of the BARC and played a key role in design and construction of the Dhruva reactor, a completely original but high-tech project. He was a part of the core team of architects of India's Peaceful Nuclear Tests in 1974 and 1998. Further he has led the indigenous development in India's Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor Technology. His work in the rehabilitation of the two reactors at Kalpakkam and the first unit at Rawatbhata, which at one stage were on the verge of being written off, are examples of his engineering capability.In 1996 he became Director of the BARC and since 2000 he is leading the Atomic Energy Commission of India and also is the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy.
He has published over 250 scientific papers.
Energy and the Future of Peaceful Nuclear Technology
Making India fully self-reliant in energy, especially from the cheap national thorium resources, seems to be his mission statement and he still pursues this dream with great dedication. He has, over the years, built competent teams of highly specialised scientists and engineers in the reactor engineering programme. Today, he continues to engage in designing the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, that uses thorium-uranium 233 as the primary energy source with plutonium as the driver fuel. The unique reactor system, with simplified but safe technology, will generate 75 per cent of electricity from thoriumThorium
Thorium is a natural radioactive chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. It was discovered in 1828 and named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder....
.
If Kakodkar's dream comes true, it will solve India's energy crisis.
Other Positions of Repute
- He is currently the Chairman, Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Technology BombayIndian Institute of Technology BombayThe Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , popularly known as IIT Bombay or IITB, is a public research university located in Powai, Mumbai...
. - He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering and served as its President during 1999-2000.
- He is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, India and the Maharashtra Academy of SciencesMaharashtra Academy of SciencesMaharashtra Academy of Sciences is a learned society whose head offices are located in Pune, Maharashtra, India.The society was established in 1976 with the aim of promoting science and examining the scientific and technological issues affecting the state. Dr. Homi Sethna, Chairman of Indian Atomic...
. - He is a member of the International Nuclear Energy Academy and Honorary member of the World Innovation Foundation. He was member of the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) during 1999-2002
- He is on the board of Governors of VJTI, MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
- He is currently the Chairman, Board of Governors, [Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar]
National Awards
- Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
in 1998. - Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 1999. - Padma VibhushanPadma VibhushanThe Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
in 2009.
Other Awards
- Highest civilian award of the Goa state-Gomant Vibhushan Award(2010)
- Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Award (1988)
- H. K. Firodia AwardH K Firodia awardsH K Firodia awards for excellence in Science & Technology are given annually by the H K Firodia foundation. The awards recognize achievements by Indian scientists in any field of science, and aim to promote a scientic spirit among Indians, especially the youth of India...
for Excellence in Science and Technology (1997) - Rockwell Medal for Excellence in Technology (1997)
- FICCIFICCIThe Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry is an association of business organizations in India, headquartered in the national capital New Delhi. FICCI is one of the main organizations to fund and support many governmental and non-governmental educational institutes...
Award for outstanding contribution to Nuclear Science and Technology (1997-98) - ANACON - 1998 Life Time Achievement Award for Nuclear Sciences
- Indian Science Congress Association's H. J. Bhabha Memorial Award (1999-2000)
- Godavari Gaurav Award (2000)
- Dr. Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award (2002)
- Chemtech Foundation's Achiever of the Year Award for Energy (2002)
- Gujar Mal Modi Innovative Science and Technology Award in 2004.
- Homi Bhabha Lifetime Achievement Award 2010.